Here are 15 fun games to play to help you continue your bond with your buddy even if you are far away. You can do them using Facetime, Whatsapp Video or Skype.
Of course, you may need to adjust or adapt to the age and attention span of your buddy, but these activities are fun and easy to do:
1. Show N Tell
This is a great way to stay connected with your buddy’s everyday life. Let them tell you about their latest activity and show you something about it. This can be a new toy, a dance move, a lego creation, an artwork, or a great heart-shaped rock they found at the park.
2. Play an Actual Game
Almost any game will do! Let your buddy choose their favorite board game. They can set up the board on their side and move the pieces. Try playing Pictionary – just have a set of cards on each side and then focus the camera on a paper or white board as you draw. There are several fun games to play over Skype together like Tenzi, charades, even some card games. Just adapt so that each of you can see and hear each other.
3. Play “I Spy”
Playing “I Spy” can be as simple or as elaborate as you want or as the age of your buddy will dictate. Use a portable device so that you can take it around the house or yard. Let your buddy tell you to “look up” or “look to the left” or “look under the table” or whatever.
4. Do a Crossword Puzzle
Doing a crossword puzzle together can be fun and of course educational. You read the clues and have your buddy try to discover the word.
5. Have a Dance Party
Okay so this isn’t exactly one of the fun games to play over Skype, but it’s a fun activity nonetheless. Just put on any music and play it loud so both ends of the conversation can hear. Set the phone, tablet or computer in a place where you both can see each other and let it fly!
6. Tell Jokes or Riddles
Before the call, agree to gather up a page full of riddles or jokes to tell one another. The only rule here is that you have to LAUGH!!!
7. Read Together
Reading together can be a great bonding time for both of you. When you are a long-distance this is one of the joys that you don’t have to miss out on. You can read for fun or help with reading homework.
8. Help with Homework (but make it a game!)
You can help your buddy with homework or school work, or even do a science project together. The idea is to make it fun and engaging.
9. Make a “No Bake” Snack
Choose a recipe that is no bake super easy, or a snack that you can each make and enjoy together. This is a great opportunity to teach your buddy how to read a recipe, learn a new cooking skill, or to pass down a favorite family recipe along with the family history that goes with it.
10. Tell Stories
You can tell a story or you can have your buddy make up a story about their favorite animated character. Just take turns telling the story one line or segment at a time.
11. Play an Instrument Together
This activity may take a bit of skill or at least a little practice. But remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect or elaborate.. So, even if you don’t already know how to play, you can learn together. This can be the piano, guitar, ukulele, harmonica or even some drums. Get your creative on!
12. Home scavenger hunt
You can do a home or backyard scavenger hunt. Prepare a list of 5 items before your meeting that your buddy has to find inside the house or the backyard. Setup a time limit and have fun!
13. Play Hangman
I think everyone knows how to play this one. This definitely qualifies as one of those fun games to play over Skype. You can tailor this game to fit anything that your buddy is learning. For instance, if they are states and capitals, you can have them guess the name of the state and then have them tell you what its capital is. Or if they need to practice spelling words, you can use those as the puzzle guess words. Be creative!
14. Build Lego Projects
You both need some Legos. You can structure this activity or not. This can be a race, a game, or just free-building. It’s kind of fun to have your buddy give you directions and you try to build what they are describing. You could make it a minute-to-win-it race and see who can get it right in the least amount of time.
15. Online Drawing Games
There’s a lot of online apps to draw together, one of them is Draw Something, it’s Simple. Easy. And. . .Best of all…free! Another fun app is Caribu: you can draw together, play games, and even read favorite books!
